Tutorials

PC Emulation

The classic approach: one dedicated emulator per console. Perfect for Windows, macOS and Linux.

1

Search for your game on RetroVault and click the Download button.

2

A short ad page appears to support the site, then a 5-second timer. The download starts automatically.

3

Extract the downloaded archive (.zip, .7z, .rar) using 7-Zip, available for free at 7-zip.org.

4

Download the emulator for your target console (see the guide below for each console).

5

Open the emulator and load the ROM via File → Open or by dragging the file onto the window.

6

Some consoles (PS1, PS2, Dreamcast, Saturn…) require a BIOS file to work. Check the emulator page for details.

7-Zip is free and open-source. It handles .zip, .7z, .rar and many other archive formats.

⚠️ Without the correct region BIOS (EU/US/JP), some emulators will refuse to start.

RetroArch - All-in-one

RetroArch bundles dozens of emulators (called "cores") into a single interface. Available on PC, Android, Mac and even consoles.

1

Download RetroArch from retroarch.com and install it.

2

Launch RetroArch and go to Online Updater → Download a Core.

3

Search and install the core for your console. Examples: Beetle PSX HW (PS1), PCSX2 (PS2), Snes9x (SNES).

4

Go back to the main menu and choose Load Content, then browse to your ROM.

5

If the console needs a BIOS, place the files in RetroArch's system/ folder (Documents/RetroArch/system on Windows).

6

Configure controllers under Settings → Input and explore Shaders to enhance the visual rendering.

💡 Find the exact path of the system/ folder under Settings → Directory → System/BIOS Directory.

🏆 RetroArch supports RetroAchievements: create a free account at retroachievements.org and unlock trophies while playing!

Batocera / Recalbox

Dedicated retrogaming operating systems. Perfect for Raspberry Pi, TV boxes or an old PC. Everything is pre-configured - no technical knowledge required!

1

Go to batocera.linux or recalbox.com and download the image for your hardware: Raspberry Pi 4/5, x86 PC, Odroid, etc.

2

Flash the image to an SD card (min. 16 GB) or USB drive using Balena Etcher, available for free at balena.io/etcher.

3

Insert the SD card into your device and boot. Batocera / Recalbox configures itself automatically on first launch (partition resize, hardware detection).

4

Connect the device to your network (Ethernet recommended for stability, or WiFi). From your PC, open File Explorer and type \BATOCERA or \RECALBOX in the address bar.

5

Copy your ROMs from RetroVault into the folder matching the console: roms/psx/ for PS1, roms/snes/ for SNES, roms/mame/ for arcade, etc.

6

If a console requires a BIOS (PS1, PS2, Dreamcast…), copy the files to the /bios folder on the network share. Batocera lists missing BIOS files in its settings.

7

From the Batocera/Recalbox interface, press Start → Scraper and select ScreenScraper. It will automatically download box art, descriptions, ratings and videos.

8

Configure controllers via Start → Controller Settings. Most USB and Bluetooth controllers (Xbox, PS4/PS5, 8BitDo…) are recognized and mapped automatically.

💡 Advanced SSH access: connect with batocera@[IP], password linux. Handy for managing files or tweaking the configuration.

📁 No network? Copy your ROMs directly to a USB drive in a roms/ folder, then plug it in - Batocera detects them automatically.

🏆 Enable RetroAchievements in system settings and connect your account to unlock trophies in thousands of retro games.

Android / Mobile

Play directly on your smartphone or tablet. Several solutions depending on the console.

1

Download the ROM from RetroVault on your PC, then transfer it to Android via USB cable, Google Drive or any cloud. You can also download directly from the Android browser.

2

Install an emulator from the Play Store: RetroArch (all-in-one), Dolphin (GC/Wii), PPSSPP (PSP)… For PS2, note that AetherSX2 has not been developed since 2023: it still runs, but receives no more fixes.

3

For RetroArch: go to Online Updater → Download a Core, install the core you need, then Load Content and select your ROM.

4

For a standalone emulator: open the app and browse your files to find the ROM. Install a file manager like MiXplorer if needed.

5

Connect a Bluetooth controller (Xbox Series, PS4/PS5, 8BitDo…) for the best experience. Most pair in seconds and are recognized automatically.

📁 Create a dedicated Downloads/ROMs/ folder and organize your ROMs by console for easy access from each emulator.

⚡ For PS2, GameCube and Wii, a Snapdragon 8 Gen 1 or equivalent is recommended for smooth emulation.

RetroBat - All-in-one for Windows

One installer, all emulators, a clean interface. Think of it as Batocera but running inside Windows - no dual boot, no hassle.

1

Download the official installer from retrobat.ovh and run it on your Windows PC. It's a standard setup wizard - just click Next.

2

On first launch, RetroBat sets itself up automatically: it downloads EmulationStation and the core emulators. Just wait 2–3 minutes.

3

Place your ROMs in C:\RetroBat\roms\[system]. For example: roms\snes\ for SNES, roms\ps2\ for PS2. Each system has its own folder - just check the names.

4

BIOS files (PS1, PS2, Dreamcast…) go in C:\RetroBat\bios\. RetroBat will clearly tell you which files are missing in the emulator settings.

5

From the main interface, press Start → Scraper and choose ScreenScraper to automatically download box art, descriptions and videos. Create a free account at screenscraper.fr if needed.

6

Plug in your controller (USB or Bluetooth) - RetroBat detects it automatically. Check Settings → Controllers to verify button mapping.

7

For demanding systems, RetroBat automatically switches to pre-configured standalone emulators: PCSX2 for PS2, Dolphin for GameCube and Wii, Ryubing for Switch. No extra setup needed.

💡 Want to pick a specific emulator for a system? Hold A (or Enter) on a system in the interface to open options and switch emulators.

🏆 RetroAchievements are fully supported. Enable them under Settings → RetroAchievements and log in to unlock trophies on thousands of retro games.

Steam Deck - Ultimate Retro Portable

With EmuDeck, the Steam Deck becomes the best retro gaming handheld ever made. Everything is set up in just a few minutes.

1

Press the Steam button → Power → Switch to Desktop Mode.

2

Open the browser and go to emudeck.com, then download the EmuDeck installer script.

3

Run the script and follow the setup wizard. Choose Easy Mode to install everything at once, or Expert Mode to pick specific emulators.

4

Choose where to store your games: internal storage (~/Emulation/) or SD card (must be formatted as ext4).

5

Copy your ROMs from your PC via Wi-Fi (SFTP using WinSCP or FileZilla) or USB into Emulation/roms/[system]/.

6

Place BIOS files in Emulation/bios/ (PS1: scph5501.bin, PS2: SCPH-70012.bin, etc.).

7

Open Steam ROM Manager (included with EmuDeck) to add your games to the Steam library with automatic cover art.

8

Switch back to Gaming Mode. Your retro games appear in a dedicated collection. Enjoy.

💡 Format your SD card as ext4 from the Steam Deck: Settings → Storage. EmuDeck performs much better on ext4 than FAT32.

🔗 To transfer files from your PC: enable SSH in EmuDeck and connect using FileZilla to your Deck's IP address (user: deck).

🏆 RetroAchievements are supported in RetroArch and ES-DE. Configure them once in EmuDeck and they apply everywhere.

iOS - Emulation on iPhone and iPad

Since 2024 the App Store allows emulators: Delta, PPSSPP and RetroArch install directly, no jailbreak needed. GameCube and Wii are the exception: DolphiniOS cannot be published there because of Apple's restrictions on just-in-time compilation.

1

Open the App Store and search for Delta: covers NES, SNES, N64, GBA, GBC and DS. Free and fully legal.

2

For PSP search PPSSPP, for GameCube/Wii search Dolphin, for PS1 search Provenance.

3

Download your ROM from RetroVault in Safari on iOS. The file lands in Files → Downloads.

4

In Delta: tap the + button in the top right → Import → select your ROM file.

5

For other emulators: each app has an Import button. Point it to your ROM in the Files app.

6

Pair a Bluetooth controller (Xbox, PS4/PS5, 8BitDo) for a proper gaming experience. Way better than touchscreen.

💡 Delta downloads cover art automatically and syncs saves via iCloud. Perfect for continuing a game on your Mac too.

⚠️ Provenance (PS1) and Dolphin (GC/Wii) require a BIOS file. Import it directly within the app's Settings menu.